LONDON — In a game of spurts when both South Laurel and Harlan County took turns looking good, then bad, the visiting Lady Bears saved their worst for last as the Lady Cardinals pulled away for a 57-49 win in a rematch of last year’s regional semifinals won by Harlan County.

South Laurel led by as many as 10 points in the first quarter before Harlan County found its inside game and went on a 13-1 run to go up by as many as five in the second quarter. Harlan County went on another run in the third quarter to lead by five once again, but South Laurel closed the period with a 10-0 run and the Lady Bears were unable to recover in a sluggish fourth quarter for both teams.

Harlan County built its lead in the second quarter by pounding the ball inside to senior center Heather Maggard, but Maggard had only one basket in the second half as the Lady Bears’ offense lost its rhythm.

“We got away from our strengths and what got us the lead,” Harlan County coach Anthony Nolan said. “We should be a more mature team and stick with what’s working. We got away from it and started taking quick shots and making bad decisions.”

Jessica Dean poured in 26 points to lead the 2-0 Lady Cardinals. The 5-3 senior guard also led in rebounds with eight, often using her quickness to run down long misses.

“I thought Jessica played awfully well for us tonight,” said South Laurel coach Konnie Snyder. “When Tish (Walker) got in foul trouble, Jessica went out and played the point for us and played extremely well.”

Harlan County (0-2) was led by Maggard with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Senior guard Kendra Russell added 10 points.

South Laurel’s pressure was effective early, sparking an 11-0 run late in the period to give the Lady Cards a 22-12 lead.

Maggard, who missed the Lady Bears’ season-opening loss to Letcher Central due to illness, took over in the second quarter with four baskets and 11 points as Harlan County built a 31-26 lead. Dean and Walker each hit two free throws to cut the deficit to 32-30 by halftime.

“They fed the ball down really good and deep,” Snyder said. “We wanted to get them down deep in the lane, and they still got it in to her. She was able to get buckets and draw fouls on us.”

South Laurel hit only one of 13 shots from the field in the second quarter.

“We struggled offensively and defensively tonight,” Snyder said. “I thought we kind of stood around offensively and defensively. I didn’t feel we got in sync all night long. We didn’t move well, we didn’t pass the ball well and didn’t react to things. Tonight we never got to that level like we did the other night against Middlesboro.”

Walker and Dean combined for eight points in a 10-0 run to close the third quarter as South Laurel turned a five-point deficit into a five-point lead (46-41) heading into the fourth quarter.

The Lady Bears turned the ball over eight times in the third quarter as South Laurel’s pressure again started to cause problems.

“When we’re having a hard time offensively we need to get into that pressure and create a couple of turnovers, and we were able to do that,” Snyder said. “I thought that was the difference in the game in the third quarter when we got some turnovers and a couple of easy baskets.”

“When we started going away from what got us the lead, they started extending pressure and we hit the panic button,” Nolan said. “Their press tried to speed us up. Instead of slowing down and getting the ball where we wanted to we played right into it.”

Harlan County went ice cold in the third period, hitting only three of 17 shots. The Lady Bears weren’t much better in the final period, missing eight of 10 shots, as they were unable to capitalize on South Laurel’s own offensive struggles.

The Lady Bears to action Tuesday at home against Lee, Va.

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South Laurel edged Harlan County 24-22 in the junior varsity game.

Freshman center Taylor Arthur scored 10 points to lead the 1-1 Lady Cardinals.

Harlan County (1-2) was led by sophomore center Torri Constant with seven points and freshman guard Shauntae Lewis with six. Madison Cornett added five points. Keisha Mimes and Brandee Gibson each scored two.

HARLAN COUNTY (0-2)

Whitney Gilliam 2-10 5-8 9, Johnnie Parker 1-12 1-2 3, Kendra Russell 3-7 3-4 10, Kalee Carroll 1-2 2-6 4, Heather Maggard 7-17 5-5 19, Lyndsey Smith 1-5 0-0 2, Samantha Sexton 0-3 0-0 0, Torri Constant 0-0 0-0 0, Christina York 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 16-57 16-29 49.

SOUTH LAUREL (2-0)

Tish Walker 1-5 4-6 6, Jessica Dean 7-18 10-13 26, Morgan Johnson 2-4 2-4 6, Erika Burchett 1-4 0-1 3, Macy Clontz 1-4 6-6 8, Chelsea Anders 1-2 0-0 2, Laura Davis 0-0 0-0 0, Andi House 2-6 0-0 6, Taylor Arthur 0-1 0-0 0, Cassandra Johnson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 15-44 22-32 57.

Harlan County 15 17 9 8 — 49

South Laurel 22 8 16 11 — 57

3-point goals: Harlan County 1-10 (Russell 1-3, Gilliam 0-2, Smith 0-2, Parker 0-3), South Laurel 5-18 (House 2-4, Dean 2-8, Burchett 1-2, Walker 0-2, Clontz 0-2). Rebounds: Harlan County 39 (Maggard 12), South Laurel 29 (Dean 8). Turnovers: Harlan County 23, South Laurel 21. Fouled out: Harlan County (Gilliam, Parker).